Ashley here, owner and founder of RE PIXS! I started this business when I was 21. I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed out to make a name for myself, and it was all great fun and games... until it wasn't. If you've been in business for any amount of time, you've likely found yourself on the emotional rollercoaster of being a business owner which is full of high highs, low lows, lessons, & opportunities.
My business (this business) became all-consuming. It affected my personal relationships and my mental and physical health. I was tired. I experienced burnout, depression, and anxiety. I was playing a game that I wasn't prepared for. I truly understand now why "50% of businesses in the U.S. fail within the first 5 years". I've learned a lot in the last 10 years... about business, life, and myself. And I want to share all of the shortcuts I've discovered along the way with all of you!
My favorite piece of advice that has stuck with me - came from my dear friend and mentor Nick Shivers, he said "business is a game of mental toughness". And it's so true! As a business owner, every single insecurity, doubt, and fear will emerge at one point or another on your journey. Therefore, it is vital that we take care of ourselves, especially our minds! With a sound mind, you can have both a fulfilled personal life AND a successful career.
After a decade in business, chasing a life of both, strengthening my mental toughness, and defining my values, I feel like I have developed the tools necessary to teach you the 3 simple secrets that have helped me create a life I genuinely love. And I'm excited to share them with you! So let's dive right in...
Secret #1: Know your personal and professional values
I've found that the easiest way to start the journey of values discovery is to think of people you admire. What do you admire about them? And why? Which of their characteristics do you want to embody? And why? Be sure to write it down! After you do this for multiple people you admire chances are you'll start to see patterns. This will give you even bigger clues into what your personal and professional values may be.
Take it a step further and reflect on some of the best and most painful memories you've experienced. What did these events teach you? For me, I had a business partner who became angry and suspicious based on their own personal fears. This led to pain and confusion and eventually deteriorated our relationship based on assumptions. In that painful experience, I learned that I valued trust, honesty, and authenticity.
Keep in mind that personal and professional values change over time. It's always a good idea to reflect on these ideas often. Be on the lookout for any events that drastically change your mood (for better or worse!) these events hold the keys to your values and your value misalignments.
Secret #2: Know what brings you joy
People, places, and things that bring you joy change often and can at times be hard to define. My personal favorite way to reflect on what brings me joy is by auditing my day/week. Think back to this morning... what did you do to prepare for your (likely) busy day ahead? Or what would you have liked to do but didn't? It's usually pretty simple things that bring us the most satisfaction, for me, making my bed with 500 cute but unnecessary pillows makes me feel aesthetically satisfied and productive. This works well for me because I know I value beauty and productivity (HINT: Things that bring you joy are in alignment with your values!)
Secret #3: Schedule your joy before you schedule work
This takes practice, even for me. It's so easy to get lost in the "have-to-do's" that we often completely miss out on making time for the things that truly fill our cups. As you sit down to plan your upcoming day/week/month, ask yourself "what can I do today/this week/this month that will bring me joy?" and then schedule it! Just like you would any other meeting or task.
And that's it! The first baby steps toward creating a better business and a more fulfilled life. It all starts with you. Choosing to work on yourself is and will always be your biggest asset!
This blog post just scratches the surface of what I believe is your most powerful personal and business tool: An Intentional Week. Because how you plan and dream up your future; matters.
Want to dive deeper and make these 3 simple secrets into tangible action steps? Then you'll love The Intentional Week Mini-Course! It was designed specifically to help you get clear on your goals and dreams.
⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️ Join the waitlist!! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
The course starts out with a short vision casting session with a guided meditation. When I first discovered this technique I wrote in my journal that I wanted my business to make $100,000 that year. That goal scared me, I had absolutely no idea how we could possibly reach that goal - but I cast my vision anyway. At the time I’m writing this to you - my business is making six figures monthly! 😳
My current reality is a dream I could have never in my wildest dreams entertained back then. What I’ve come to find out is that when your vision is clear the mechanisms to achieve it will appear. We just have to make the space to dream it up, get it out of our hearts and mind, and put it into motion. And I'd love to guide you on your journey to a better business and a more fulfilled life!
With love,
Ashley
RE PIXS CEO & Intentional Week Course Creator